Biology subjects

Comin, C. H.

Publications and source records attributed to Comin, C. H..

3 recordsLinked to original sources

bioRxiv2025

Metabolic, epigenetic and transcriptomic alterations in postnatal 16p11.2 deficient murine astrocytes

Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) are associated with metabolic dysregulation. While astrocytes are integral to cerebral metabolism, their molecular and functional changes in ASD are poorly known. Using early postnatal primary cortical astrocytes from a mouse model of 16p11.2 deletion ASD syndrome (16p11.2df/+ mice), we observed core molecular alterations with sex-specific profiles, suggesting divergent energetic pathways and epigenetic regulation. Targeted metabolomics revealed opposing phenotypes in male versus female 16p11.2df/+ astrocytes, particularly for alpha-ketoglutaric acid. Functionally, 16p11.2df/+astrocytes exhibited elevated phosphorylation in low glucose culture conditions, and reduced glycolysis in high glucose. Epigenetic profiling of male 16p11.2df/+astrocytes revealed differentially hydroxymethylated and methylated regions, with foci on chromosomes 3 and 13. Finally, bulk RNA sequencing in male and female mutant astrocytes indicated differential gene expression with profound sex differences, mostly affecting pathways related to cellular morphology. By establishing 16p11.2df/+ astroglial molecular signatures, this study refines our understanding of glial changes in ASD.

cell biology↗

bioRxiv2025

Purinergic receptor activation rectifies autism-associated endothelial dysfunction

Early cerebrovascular alterations affect brain maturation by impacting trophic support and energy supply. Recent evidence in a 16p11.2 deletion mouse model of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) revealed brain endothelial abnormalities postnatally. Yet, the endothelial alterations eliciting these changes remain unknown. Isolation of brain endothelial cells (ECs) from 14-day old male 16p11.2-deficient and wild-type mice revealed that 16p11.2 deletion-induced endothelial dysfunction is linked to a bioenergetic failure, with reduced intracellular ATP. Intra- or extra-cellular ATP supplementation rescued the function of 16p11.2-deficient ECs in vitro via P2 purinergic receptor activation, specifically P2Y2 receptors. Activating P2Y2 receptors restored cerebrovascular reactivity in 16p11.2-deficient parenchymal arterioles ex vivo and rescued 16p11.2 deletion-associated mouse behaviors. Taken together, this study demonstrates that metabolic reprogramming of brain ECs via purinergic receptor engagement represents a possible therapeutic avenue for ASD.

cell biology↗

bioRxiv2023

Astroglial Hmgb1 regulates postnatal astrocyte morphogenesis and cerebrovascular maturation.

Astrocytes are intimately linked with brain vessels, a relationship that is critical for neuronal health and function. However, astroglial factors driving these physical and functional associations during postnatal brain development have yet to be identified. We characterized structural and transcriptional changes in mouse cortical astrocytes and microvessels during the first two postnatal weeks and found that high-mobility group box 1 (Hmgb1), normally upregulated with injury and involved in adult cerebrovascular repair, was highly expressed in astrocytes at birth and then decreased rapidly. Astrocyte-selective ablation of Hmgb1 at birth affected astrocyte morphology and endfoot placement, altered distribution of endfoot proteins connexin43 and aquaporin-4, induced transcriptional changes in astrocytes related to cytoskeleton remodeling, and profoundly disrupted endothelial ultrastructure. While lack of astroglial Hmgb1 did not affect the blood-brain barrier or angiogenesis postnatally, it impaired neurovascular coupling and behavior in adult mice. These findings identify astroglial Hmgb1 as a key player in postnatal gliovascular maturation.

developmental biology↗